Good Company are sad to announce the passing of member Bob Besanko at the age of 90.
Bob was a highly regarded and popular member of the choir who sadly passed away on 24th August 2020. Good Company had the privilege to sing at his committal and was represented by a small group of 10. At Christine’s request we sang “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, which was sung at their Wedding, and “Abide with Me”.
The following notes about Bob have been taken from the Eulogies given at his funeral by his children.
Born in Penryn, Cornwall on November 24th, 1929, he was educated at the Penryn Church of England School. He was an altar server and sang in the St Gluvias Church Choir.
During the war Bob was a telegram boy, he played rugby for both Penryn and Falmouth Town clubs and was also an active Scout and Scout Leader for the Penryn Scout group. He joined the Penwerris Church Choir in Falmouth in his late teens, where he met Christine, also a member of the Choir. They married in Penwerris Church on October 8th in 1955, and have been together for nearly 65 years.
He joined the Merchant Navy in 1951 and went around the world three times! When Bob left the Navy, he and Christine made the big decision to move to Sutton Coldfield where he took up a post as a lecturer in Maths, Physics, and Engineering Science at Brooklyn Technical College, and remained for all his working life. In addition, Bob also taught at Aston University and wrote several books on Maths and Engineering Science; still in use today.
Bob and Christine have two children (Christopher and Lynn); three grandsons (Andrew, Richard, and Jonathan); and two great-grandsons (Sebastian and Alexander), and one great- granddaughter (Charlotte). Family was a very important part of Bob’s life, and they returned to Cornwall during the summer and at Christmas for family holidays. His son told many amusing anecdotes about their holiday adventures. Bob traced his family back to the 1500s and most lived well into their eighties and nineties!!!
Bob had many interests – he was a Freemason for over 60 years; he played Golf for many years; and with Christine they enjoyed both Ballroom and Latin dancing, gaining many certificates and trophies. Together they raised money for charities and were members of St Peters Church, Little Aston.
Bob will be sadly missed by Good Company, especially for his fine voice and gentle ways.
If anyone would like to donate to his chosen charities supporting Dementia Care and RNLI, please send to:
Ian Hazel Funerals, 274 Lichfield Road, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2UH. Telephone: 0121 308 7777
Bob loved this piece and it was played as he left the church after his funeral.